SUITE LIFE OF ZACK & CODY, THE (TV SERIES) - DVD review

A generation after kids used to walk miles in the snow to get to school, they were hurrying back from school so they could tune in to "The Mickey Mouse Club." Disney really knew how to speak to schoolchildren in the Fifties, and they still do. With shows like "That's So Raven," "Kim Possible," "Cory in the House," and "The Wizards of Waverly Place," they continue to churn out entertainment that keeps young people tuning in. And aside from "Hannah Montana," "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" is probably one of the Disney Channel's most popular sitcoms. Kids love the idea of double lives, and they get a healthy dose of it in both shows. Miley Stuart leads a secret life as pop sensation Hannah Montana, and in "The Suite Life" two identical twins sometimes use their "twinness" to have a little fun at other people's expense.

Since "Bambi," Disney has had a thing for single-parent families, and that's part of the concept here too. Carey Martin (Kim Rhodes) is the single mom of identical twins, one a cool kid slash troublemaker (Zack, played by Dylan Sprouse), and the other a nerdy goody-goody (Cody, played by Cole Sprouse). Because Carey is a singer at the lounge of the Tipton Hotel in Boston, and because she's a single parent, the hotel gives her and the boys year-round lodging in one of the hotel suites as part of her compensation. Suite! the boys think, and the pun is most certainly intended. They're not the only full-time residents. London Tipton (Brenda Song) is the spoiled-rotten, easily bored, and not terribly bright heiress who's obviously a parodic jab at Paris Hilton. The other main characters are Maddie (Ashley Tisdale, "High School Musical"), a high school who works the hotel candy counter; Mr. Moseby (Phil Lewis), the uptight, excessively formal hotel manager; and Arwin (Brian Stepanek), the janitor.

I'm guessing the only reason Disney doesn't release Disney Channel shows in complete season sets is because their marketing research told them that kids don't have the money to plunk down on full-season sets, and if they're bugging their parents to let them have a DVD at the store, it's easier to get Mom or Dad to say "yes" to a $19.99 SRP item. This marks the third "Suite Life" release, each of them including four episodes. This one follows "Taking Over the Tipton" and "Sweet Suite Victory" with four episodes from the show's third season.

My children, who are "Zack and Cody" fanatics, sat beside me as I reviewed this, wanting to make sure that I "got it right." How many episodes were good? Three out of four, they said. What about the bonus features? "Sweet." What about . . . "I'm gonna go upstairs to play."

No matter. I didn't need them to tell me which was the weakest episode of the four.

The Arwin That Came to Dinner (first broadcast 8-5-07) shifts the focus from the boys to the Tipton's janitor, who temporarily moves in with them after his mom gets married and leaves him all alone. Meanwhile, London's boyfriend breaks up with her, and she's determined to get him back in this episode that just doesn't have much zip to it, and more corny lines than clever ones. It's the turkey in the bunch, so much so that I'm astounded the producers actually went so far as to pitch a pilot spin-off called "Arwin!!" (which wasn't picked up by the Disney Channel). The comedy is so strained that some of the humor is supposed to derive from the things Arvin was used to his mother doing for him. Now, I found Cliff Claven on "Cheers" funny when he and his mom went at it, but it's just a little too random to have this grown man screaming "I want my rhinoceros pancakes" (which, apparently, Mom used to make for him). Tantrums? Not funny, and neither is this episode. What kid thinks mama's boy humor rocks?

"Lip Synchin' in the Rain" (first broadcast 8-12-07) capitalizes on the success of "High School Musical" and the fact that one of the stars works on this set as one of the supporting actresses. Ashley Tisdale has some fun here in an episode in which she and the boys try out for the school musical, which just happens to be "High School Musical." Geeky Cody is all excited that it might be Gilbert & Sullivan, and Tisdale at one point says "I look nothing like Sharpay," the character she played in "High School Musical." Lots of wink-wink comedy here, and the kids will eat it up. Allusions to "Singin' in the Rain" will go right over their heads, but it will make parents smile.

"Orchestra" (first broadcast 11-10-07) finds Cody getting mega-jealous when his girlfriend, Barbara (Sophie Oda) gets hit on by a visiting Russian violinist. And when rumors spread that Barbara might even go back to Russia with Sergei (Max Bugrov), it's too much for either brother to bear. Some funny moments.

A Tale of Two Houses (first broadcast 11-17-07) finds the boys having a sleepover at the apartment of their dad (Robert Torti as Kurt Martin), but preferring a different kind of sleepover. Each of the twins invites his girlfriend to come over to his "pad" when Dad has to work late, and of course Dad returns early (and Mom drops by) and there's a whole lot of explaining to do. Given the age range, the theme itself is going to appeal. Amanda Gallo guests as Zack's girlfriend Abby.

Video:
Nothing special, nothing terrible about the picture quality. This one is presented in 1.33:1 aspect ratio, and there's the usual slight graininess that TV shows exhibit--but the colors are bright and vivid.

Audio:
The audio options are an English or French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, and again it's a decent soundtrack but nothing to rave (or rant) about.

Extras:
Fans of the show will like watching the two boys on-camera being interviewed by actress Brenda Song, who is clearly surprised by how the two have grown since the show began. The guys are likeable on-camera as they talk about how they're different and what they like (or dislike) about being twins. Some sweet moments, actually. These guys love each other and they're not afraid to say so in front of millions of fans, who will learn which one was actually born first, among other things. The only other bonus feature is a gag reel that makes you wonder if they were thinking of the other meaning of gag when they put it together. Not funny, not fun to watch.

Bottom Line:
Fans of "The Suite Life of Zach and Cody" will enjoy these episodes, and fans of "High School Musical" will get a kick out of seeing Tisdale "try out" all over again.